I need confirmation that this is a good idea and much improves Sylvias performance. The Model SD3 seems to be the one I'm gravitating towards. Please board, tell me this is $240 well spent and that I'm not throwing my $$$ away. I get decent shots from Sylvia and really good ones when I focus and am not in a hurry. I figure stable temp should help me the most as that seems to be the most unstable portion of the equation with Sylvia. Help! Please chime in. Thanks!!

I need confirmation that this is a good idea and much improves Sylvias performance. The Model SD3 seems to be the one I'm gravitating towards. Please board, tell me this is $240 well spent and that I'm not throwing my $$$ away. I get decent shots from Sylvia and really good ones when I focus and am not in a hurry. I figure stable temp should help me the most as that seems to be the most unstable portion of the equation with Sylvia. Help! Please chime in. Thanks!!

Please read/search my posts here about it, Jim's 100% eBay feedback, all the charts, graphs, & info Jim has on his home page., my highly recommended permanent addition to my site.., & last but certainly not least, all the satisfied customers right here & that haven't chimed in yet. {;-)

BEST thing I've ever done for Miss Silvia! {;-D

P.S. I've read this quite a lot on alt.coffee & the first time I've ever said this but it's worth repeating. "I am in no way affiliated commercially with the above mentioned company, nor do I profit in any way financially."I'm just an end user with my PID'd home machine, the Rancilio Miss Silvia & an extremely happy camper!,Cheers!

$240 seems like a lot to PID a Silvia. I typically spend $80 to PID machines. Try www.auberins.com for parts. They have thermocouples specifically for Silvia and Gaggias. PIDing is super easy and so many people can help. You are very wise to ask in the forum.I'm glad to help as well. PID everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just got a LN Like New controller for $51 USD, my 3rd! This included a 25A SSR & the therm prob & pre calibrated too!! {:-DJim said he had an overstock of different controllers & it'd be wise to check his auctions from time to time to see what's available.

Jim's tested the Auberin controller throughly, & doesn't recommend them due to having membrane push buttons that crack over time & the temp stability & overshoot, maximum operating environmental temp for the controller isn't as high, etc.

Jim also uses special loss limit thermocouple wire that has 4 times better accuracy & is teflon coated, not fiberglass braid.

Quote:"Custom made type T thermocouple probe, using Special Limits of Error (SLE) wire. Others use type K or J thermocouples. The thermocouples in our kits have less than 1/4 the error limits of standard type K or J probes. (Each individual thermocouple is tested and its calibration verified before shipping)."

PID on silvia is a great thing. When I did it, I just bought all the parts from ttiglobal.com, I used a fuji pxr3. I'm sure you can pay significantly less if you do it yourself, and it's very easy to do. (I'm not an engineer, just kinda geeky)

PID on silvia is a great thing. When I did it, I just bought all the parts from ttiglobal.com, I used a fuji pxr3. I'm sure you can pay significantly less if you do it yourself, and it's very easy to do. (I'm not an engineer, just kinda geeky)

Yeah, easy to do & I was going to do that too Andrew, but never got around to it. What I'm sayin' is it was CHEAPER having a professionally built & assembled, calibrated kit ready to go! Look at the price of a 25, 50A SSR, controller, thermocouple, etc.

My Watlow 965A complete kit cost $149 USD in June 6/06!, look at what just the Fuji, Watlow, any controller/s cost these days. The Fuji alone start @ $139.00.

Temp surfed Silvia for two years then ran boiler PID'd a couple more. PID'd boiler mucho simpler for determining temp for first or second shot in a series, after that group temp creep takes over rising about 3f shot 3 and a good 12f by shot 6. Since I entertained periodically group temp creep was a problem that needed addressing and actually bought a rope heater and second PID to stabilize group temp ala Andy. But before getting it installed ended up upgrading to Bricoletta. So I'd say yes boiler temp PID control will give good boiler temp accuracy, but not necessarily good shot temp accuracy depending on shot frequency. Attempting to accurately hit shot temp as group temp rose in a series was a major PIA and hence the decision for rope heater PID group mod. FWIW shot temp testing need found by shot taste problem entertaining (shots going way bitter in a series), tests executed using Scace Thermofilter.

Doing it yourself is cheaper and you will be satisfied even with less than the best parts. If money is no object, Jim's piece should be perfect, it's a quality piece and he takes pride in it. I however, prefer RTD's over Thermo's. Next step for you is to add a timer and pressure gauge. www.flickr.com/photos/inkstar

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